Missed your period? Experiencing nausea? Is your appetite down to a low? You might be having a baby soon!
That’s right — if you’re going through these and more, you could very well be ‘on the way,’ as we say when referring to someone who is expecting a child. Just to be sure, let’s take a look at the signs that can help you know if you really are pregnant.
What can you read in this article?
- Very early signs of pregnancy 1 week
- First month of pregnancy symptoms
- Unusual pregnancy symptoms: a checklist
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
Very early signs of pregnancy 1 week
Some women experience no pregnancy symptoms during the first week, while others may suffer exhaustion, breast soreness, and minor cramps. Take a look further and notice the very early signs of pregnancy 1 week that you may experience.
1. Implantation Bleeding
An early indicator of pregnancy is implantation bleeding. It’s not like having a period. Light bleeding, such as a single spot of blood or a small amount of pink discharge, is more likely. The spotting could linger anywhere from a few hours to a few days. This is known as implantation bleeding and it occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus.
Certain women might report a small amount of spotting or bleeding during the first stage of their pregnancy, around 6 to 12 days after conceiving.
2. Mild cramps
As the embryo attaches to the uterus wall, women may experience minor discomfort. These cramps might affect a woman’s abdominal, pelvic, or lower back.
A pulling, tingling, or pricking feeling may accompany the cramps. Some women only have a few small cramps, while others may have intermittent discomfort that lasts a few days.
Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels
First month of pregnancy symptoms
Every woman and every pregnancy has various pregnancy symptoms in week one.So what should you expect in the first month or first trimester of your pregnancy?
3. Tender breasts
You’re probably already familiar with this feeling — i.e. tender breasts — especially before your period comes. When you’re expecting, they will more or less feel the same way due to the hormonal changes in your body. Usually, this occurs approximately 2 weeks after conception — your breasts may either feel tender and sore, or fuller and heavier. However, according to doula and lactation expert Teresa Pitman, not all pregnant women go through these changes, “especially if they have been on birth control pills.”
4. Exhaustion & nausea
Did you sleep for 8 hours, even adding a few more hours for good measure, yet you still feel like you’ve just finished running away from a pack of wolves? When you’re pregnant, exhaustion and fatigue will begin to set in early on.
The reason behind this is hormonal changes — during the early stages of pregnancy, your progesterone levels are high, which may cause you to feel extra-sleepy. Also, the combination of lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels and increased blood production in response to your growing baby may make you easily fatigued.
5. Food cravings
Are you craving for something in particular, like green mango with bagoong, or your favorite pork adobo when you’ve already sworn off eating meat? Or perhaps you suddenly feel nauseous at the sight and smell of your favorite pasta dish? These could indicate that you are pregnant. Food cravings and aversions are usually common during the 1st trimester but could also last all throughout your pregnancy.
6. Constipation
Constipation can be caused by high amounts of the hormone progesterone, which slows the flow of food through your digestive tract. Supplementing with iron can exacerbate the condition. Include enough of fiber in your diet and drink plenty of fluids, especially water and prune or other fruit juices, to avoid or treat constipation. Physical activity is also beneficial.
7. Heartburn
Hormones produced during pregnancy Heartburn can occur when the valve between your stomach and esophagus is relaxed, allowing stomach acid to leak into your esophagus. Eat small, frequent meals to avoid heartburn, and avoid fried foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, and spicy or fried foods.
8. Increased urination
You might notice that you’re urinating more frequently than usual. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in your body rises, leading your kidneys to process excess fluid that collects in your bladder.
READ MORE:
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Other pregnancy symptoms
9. Delay/difference in your period
If your period is delayed or is missed, you might want to take a pregnancy test. Usually, pregnant women have a missed period though some women still bleed while they are pregnant. However, the bleeding is usually lighter or shorter than their normal period.
10. Mood swings
Do you find yourself snapping at everyone and everything? Or maybe you’re feeling blue lately? Or perhaps you feel like you want to hug every single person in the world and then, not long afterwards, you feel like you want to chew them up and spit them out?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you’re definitely experiencing mood swings! Although they can be due to other reasons besides being pregnant, they’re still one of the symptoms you should consider. The rush of hormones, especially during the early days of pregnancy, can make you very emotional. This is fairly common in the first trimester.
11. Breast changes
Between weeks 4 and 6, breast alterations can develop. Due to hormonal fluctuations, you’re more likely to get painful and swollen breasts. When your body has accustomed to the hormones, this will most likely go away after a few weeks.
Around week 11, nipple and breast changes are also possible. Your breasts will continue to expand as a result of hormones. The area around the nipple, known as the areola, may darken and get larger.
If you had acne before your pregnancy, it’s possible that you’ll get breakouts again.
Unusual pregnancy symptoms: a checklist
Aside from this first month of pregnancy symptoms and very early signs of pregnancy 1 week, there could also be hidden pregnancy signs. Check this unusual pregnancy symptom a checklist for more.
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You’ll taste metal
For many pregnant women, increases in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy might cause changes in taste.
Dysgeusia is a disorder that causes some pregnant women to taste metal. It’ll make you feel like you’re eating old pennies for lunch. Saltines and sugarless gum will help you get rid of the metallic taste. Drinking cooler liquids or eating spicy meals might also help.
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Stronger sense of smell
A heightened sense of smell is another early pregnancy sign. This symptom might manifest as a decreased tolerance for specific smells or a woman’s increased sensitivity to smell. This sensitivity might cause nausea in certain people.
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Vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge is common among women, but it’s not always linked to pregnancy. However, most pregnant women exude sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus beginning in the first trimester and continuing throughout the pregnancy.
The discharge is caused by increased hormones and vaginal blood flow. As your cervix and vaginal walls weaken during pregnancy, it increases to avoid infections. Consult a doctor if the discharge begins to:
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- Smell bad
- Itch, hurt, sore
- Turn greenish-yellow
- Becomes very thick or watery
This could be an infection.
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Congestion
Rhinitis is the medical term for the runny nose that many pregnant women endure. Congestion can be treated with a humidifier, saline drops, or a saline rinse.
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Nosebleeding
Because of the hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy, nosebleeds are extremely prevalent. Nosebleeds are rarely life-threatening and are usually treatable at home.
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Headache
Because of the elevated estrogen levels in the body, a pregnant woman may feel headaches. Tension headaches can also be caused by stress or exhaustion.
Before taking any medication while pregnant, including over-the-counter pain medications, women should consult their healthcare professional.
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Acne
Acne is another early symptom of pregnancy that many women encounter. Some women already have acne, but it exacerbates during pregnancy.
For controlling acne during pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the following:
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- Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water to wash your face twice a day.
- Avoiding pinching or squeezing acne lesions helps reduce the risk of scarring
- Choosing non-oily cosmetics
- Before utilizing any items, consult a healthcare expert to ensure that they are safe to use during pregnancy.
When to get a pregnancy test kit
If you have only 1 or 2 of the aforementioned signs, it might be too presumptive to say that you’re pregnant. However, you can’t go wrong with a pregnancy kit, which is usually 99% accurate. So how does a pregnancy kit work in the first place?
Well, during pregnancy, a hormone known as Human Chrionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is produced and released in the blood, and can be traced in the urine. The pregnancy test kit looks out for hCG when you test yourself. However, be warned. If you’re early in your pregnancy and the test is done too early, the test may come back negative. In that case, test yourself again in a few days’ time.
The best time to take a home pregnancy test if you suspect you’re pregnant is one week after you first miss a period. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, when done correctly and at the right time, home pregnancy tests are 97 percent accurate.
A blood test can typically detect pregnancy much earlier, but it must be performed in a doctor’s office or clinical setting.
What to do after a pregnancy test: consult your doctor
Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels
Ultimately, the thing to remember when you want to check if you are pregnant is this: It’s better to be safe, especially if you think you are expecting a baby. So do consult your doctor once you start experiencing symptoms that are normally associated with pregnancy.
What symptoms listed in this article did you have when you found out you were pregnant? Come share in the comments below!
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below.
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